| Canto 11: General History | Chapter 3: Liberation from the Illusory Energy |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.3.33
SYNONYMS
iti — thus; bhāgavatān dharmān — the science of devotional service; śikshan — studying; bhaktyā — by devotion; tat-utthayā — generated by it; nārāyana-parah — completely devoted to the Supreme Lord, Nārāyana; māyām — the illusory energy; añjah — easily; tarati — crosses beyond; dustarām — impossible to cross.
TRANSLATION
Thus learning the science of devotional service and practically engaging in the devotional service of the Lord, the devotee comes to the stage of love of Godhead. And by complete devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyana, the devotee easily crosses over the illusory energy, māyā, which is extremely difficult to cross.
PURPORT
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has pointed out that mukti, or liberation, which is described in this verse by the words māyām añjas tarati dustarām, is actually a by-product or secondary result of pure love of Godhead. In the second verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is pointed out, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsarānām satām/ vedyam vāstavam atra vastu śivadam tāpa-trayonmūlanam [SB 1.1.2]. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam teaches the science of devotional service, in which the ultimate goal is pure love of Godhead. According to the Vaishnava ācāryas, mukti, or liberation, is a by-product of love of Godhead. Śivadam tāpa-trayonmūlanam. One should not approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead for liberation, since one is automatically liberated by obeying the order of the Lord. Krishna's order is given at the end of Bhagavad-gītā: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekam śaranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Every living being should give up his mundane conceptions of life and take full shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. If one carries out this order the Lord automatically provides liberation (mukti). Actual happiness comes from loving God without any tinge of mental speculation or fruitive desire.
anyābhilāshitā-śūnyam
ānukūlyena krishnānu-
[Madhya 19.167]
"One should render transcendental loving service to Lord Krishna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service." (Bhakti-rasāmrita-sindhu 1.1.11) So crossing over the insurmountable ocean of illusion, as described here, is not actually the principal result of bhāgavata-dharma, or devotional service to the Lord, but is a by-product of pure love of Godhead.
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari